Oscillating valve mechanism



June 16, 1953v y c. F. CARTER 2,642,215

oscILLATING VALVE McHANIsM Filed April s, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 1' June 16, 1953 C, F, CARTER 642,215

l OSCILLATING VALVE MECHANISM 1N VEN TOR.

CMMI.' 6202151 BY June 16, 1953 c. F. CARTER 4oscr'LLATING VALVE MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 3, 1952 INVENTOR; E

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Carter June 13, 1953 c. F. CARTER 2,642,215

oscILLATING VALVE: MECHANISM Filed April 5, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HOPPER CLOSED No.1 HEAD CLOSED ,madman mal/MM INVENTOR.

'Zazram. Carter B rgm,2m-d 'BMM ATTORNEYS' Patented June 16, 1953 e '2,642,215l l oscILLA'rING'vALvE MECHAmsM Y clarence F. carter',D'mivilkienl;` n Application April 3, 1952, 'serial No. 280,289

2 claims. (acl. 22e- 116) This invention relates to -an oscillating valve mechanism, iilling head and-shroud useful for vacuum iilling containers, particularly flexible or non-rigid containers such as bags, cardboard boxes, and the like, with powders. Y v

The apparatus of this-invention may beused in connection with vacuum lling machines of the `type described in my U., S. Patents Nos. 2,170,469 and 2,443,182, and copending application Serial No. 593, iiled January 5, ,1948, now Patent No.,2,613,864. e

It is an object of theinvention to provide a compact iilling head, shroud, and control valve mechanism, for use particularly in connection with "multiple head powderiilling machines wherein the rate of iilling may be off` the order of several hundred containers per hour.

lItis a further object to` provide a compact mechanism to control vacuum type filling heads for powder iilling machines wherein the pressure is alternately reduced` and ythen relieved to atmospheric, rapidly andv repeatedly while filling a container, the purpose of such action being to obtain maximum uniformiill of the container with minimum settling of the contents after iilling.

Figure 1 is a plan view in partial section of the iilling head. y WFigure 2 is a sectional elevation of the head and shroud taken-along the-,lines 2-2 of Figure 1. Figure 3 is anend view of the oscillating valving mechanism.

Figure 4.is a sectionalonglines 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure is ajviewalong lines 5 5 -o'f Figure 4. Figure 6 is an. endrviewA along lines 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figures 7 to 10 are views taken in the same direction as Figure'3, illustrating relative positions ofr thegrooves and ports at various stages of the filling cycle.

I isa hopper which may be of the rotaryy type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,443,182. The

lling head proper is generally designated as II.v4

The hopper IIJ is attached means of flange I2, a plate 30 lying therebetween. Through the center of the body II isa powder passageway I3 in which may be disposed ya! valye of the type disclosed 'in my copending application Serial NO. 271,748, iiled The valve comprises a vertical tube I4 centrally located in the annular space I3. The tube I4 is supported on a line I which extends outwardly to nlling head Il by through the body of the filling head and may be:4

connected to a source ofv air pressure and a source of vacuum. Thus the line 'February 15; 1952.`

I5 maybe termed 8( vacuum-air line.

2 Line I5 leads to the oscillating valve hereinafter described. Around the tube I4 is an inatable rubber tube I6. This is attached at either end. There are perforations I7 intube I4 and tube I6.lies over these. When air pressureis0 applied through line I5 the tube I6 is inflatedto the position shown bythe dotted lines, thus` effectively closing the passage I3.

, When, vacuum is applied, it defiatesto the posimaterial.

tion shown. Positive deation is needed to prevent wrinkling of the tube, and insure an unobstructed passageway from the hopper.

Attached by means of iiange I 8 to the lling head I I is a shroud ISfwhich may have a rubberv skirt 20 intended to coact with a platform 2I to seal the bottom of the shroud. This platform is pneumatically operated by means of an air cylinder or other suitable means for raising a container 22 into filling position and lowering it out of the shroud when the iilling operation is completed. f

Adjacent Athe passageway I3 are rannular groovesor kerfs `23 and 24. over which are secured screens 25 Aand V26. These annular grooves are divided from each other at`2l`and 28. This structure is similar to that shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,170,469." The structure associated with the annular kerf 23 will be hereinafter referred to as head No. 1 and ,that associated with kerf,24 will be referred tov as head No. 2, as may be seen in Figure 1. A,

Extending into theann'ularkerf 2.3 isa series of vertical passageways 29. Similar passageways open into lkerf 24.'` The vertical passageways 29 are Abranches of a horizontal main kpassageway 3l, this passageway being closed at the top by plate 30. Relief port 32 opens from the main passageway 3|, as does vacuum port 33. A second branch passageway 34 leads downwardly into the interior of the shroud externally of the container. Extending into the filling head is line 35 (or 35') which opens into passageway 36 and vacuum'supplyportSl. A valve Yblock V38 is secured to thev vfilling head "I I. In the valve block is a rectangular recesslying over ports 33 and 31.' The recess is divided longitudinally by an inatable 'diaphragm 39 of rubber or' othersuitable IIB into which ports 33,and 31 open and a cham- 1 by way of line 35 (or head No. 2 by way of line 'I'his forms a rectangular passageway 35'). When vacuum is applied to line 42 (or 52), diaphragm 39 is pulled away from ports 33 and 31 so that a continuous passageway is formed from line 35 through port 31, port 33 and passageways 29, 3l and 34, thus simultaneously evacuating the interior of container 22 and the space in the shroud surrounding container 22. Thus when the valve in passageway I3 is open, powder is withdrawn from hopper I into the container. Since the pressure inside and outside of the container is equal, the container cannot burst even though it be a paper bag, cardboard box or the like.

The construction and operation of headv No. 2 is identical with that of head No. 1. A block 43 is attached to the body of the llling head I I and is of similar construction to the cony trol valves of filling heads Nos. 1 and 2. 'An air vacuum line 44 leads into a recess 45 in block 43.*-

The recess is divided longitudinally by a rubber diaphragm 46 leaving a passageway 41 between the diaphragm and the body II of the head. Leading from the passageway 41 is an exit port 48 which opens to the atmosphere. Thus when air pressure is applied to diaphragm 46 through line 44 it closes relief port 32 and exit port'48 and cuts off communication of the atmosphere with the interior of the container and shroud. When vacuum is drawn through line 44, diaphragm 4E is pulled away from ports 32 and 48 and there is communication of the interior of the V shroud and the container with the atmosphere.

The operation of the filling head during the lling operation is similar to that disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,170,469. The .operation may be summarized as follows:

At the beginning of the lling operation the platform 2| has been lowered away from the shroud and a container is placed thereon. The

platform 2| is then raised, putting the container 22 into lling position and sealing it within the shroud. If the container is rigid, or relatively so, it may thrust against the rubber gasket 49 to form a seal which prevents communication between the interior of the container and the shroud around it. This seal may be further improved by inflating van inflatable member which lies in the upper part of the shroud and when inflated thrusts the wall of 'the container against that portion of the filling head (designated as 5 I) which extends downwardly into the open top of the container. This structure is not shown in detail but may correspond to that shown in my U. S. Patent No. 2,513,143. Modification of the present fillinghead to embody the features disclosed in said patent willbe readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The one advantage of this type of sealing mechanism is to hold a container in place rmly and prevent powder from the container being drawn into the shroud surrounding it. Since the containervis held in position at a point below the open top, it prevents the container from being split. This is particularly important in connection with paper bags.

Up to the pointdescribed, air pressure is applied through line 42 of lling head No. 1 and line 52 of lfilling head No. 2, thus thrusting the diaphragm 39 over the ports 33 and 31 and cutting off the vacuum which would otherwise` be drawn through the two halves of the lling head. Vacuum is drawn through line 44, pulling diaphragm 4B vaway from ports 32 and 48 so that continuous open passageways lead from the interior of the container and of the. shroud to 4. the atmosphere. At this time the passageway I3 is closed by applying air to line I5 and inating the rubber tube I6 into the position shown in the dotted lines so that no powder can fall through the passageway.

When the filling operation begins air pressure is applied to line 44, thus closing off ports 32 and 48. A vacuum is drawn on lines 42 and 52, thus opening ports 31 and 33 so that vacuum is drawn through lines 35 and35, evacuating the interior ofthe container and of the'shroud to the same pressure as heretofore explained. The .valve in passageway I3 is now deflated by applyingA vacuum toline I5. The vacuum existing within container 22 causes powder to flow from hopper I0 into the container. The major part of the lling occurs at this stage. Air pressure :may then be applied to lines 42 and 52, closing ports33 and 31. A vacuum is applied to line 44, opening ports 32 and 48. The air from the atmosphere rushes backthrough passageway 41 and portsk 32 to thelinterio'r of the container and of the shroud. The'air drawn through screens 25 and 26 dislodges particles of powder that may have accumulated there during the initial filling operation.

. The central head valve (relief valve) is then closed by applying air pressure to line 44. Air pressure is still applied to line 52, thus effectively closing head No. 2. Head No. 1 is opened by applying vacuum to line 42, the valve in passageway I3( remaining open.v This .causes addi-` tional powder to be drawn from hopper I0 into the container. Head No. 1 is then closed and the central head valve is opened, thus restoring .the interior of the container and shroud to atmospheric pressure. The central head valve is then closed, head No. 1 remaining closed and head No. 2 is opened by applying vacuum to line 52. This again evacuates theA interior of the container and the shroud, causing additional powder to iiow'into thecontainer. This operation may be repeated several times. It has the advantage of not only making certain that the container is completely lled with powder, but it exerts a vibrating effect on the contents of the container, causing it to be de-aerated and to pack down into the container, so that the contents will not settle after the package is sealed.

` The oscillating valve mechanism which may be used to control the operation Aof the filling head just described, is illustrated in Figures 3 to 6. .The mechanism comprises a body member generally designated 53, j having a support bracket 54, which may be mounted on the frame of a lling machine. In the body member 55 is 1a Vacuum supply port 5E, into which mayy be fitted a nipple 51 and a line 58. leading to a source of vacuum. In the body member 55 is a plurality of gas-delivery ports, throughwhich air is supplied or vacuum applied to lines 42, 44 and 52 of the lling head. Port 59 is equipped with nipple 60, to which may be attached ilexible tube 52. The location of these ports is best seen in Figure 6. Port 6I is connected to the No.2 headby line 42, in a manner similar to that in which port 59r is connected to the No. 1 head. Port 62 `is similarly connected to the central Ahead by line 44. Port 63 is connected to line I5.

.A bearing member 64, having a sleeve bearing 65, is integral with the body member. Extending through the bearing 65 is a rotatable shaft 66, which is keyed at 61 toa rotatable disk 68. The

face `of the disk 68, matching the face Yof y.the

- refer to Figures '1 to 10.

- vacuum or at atmospheric pressure.

body member :53,:is grooved as Ashownain Figure'. 5 and in the dotted line of Figure 3. A pluralityv of ports .or air passageways are drilled through disk 68 Coveringthe diskv 68 and mounted-on: the bodyfmember 53, is a recessed faceplate 69.' .The opposing faces of plate 89 and disk BSarespaced from each other as illustrated,=to forman air chamber.` The periphery of the disk 68 bearsrin gas-tight relationship .against the -inner periph.- ery of recessedface plate 69. Through the face plate, and opening into the chamber between the face plate and the disk, is la portiitted'with nipple 1l and line 12 leadingI tofafsource vof` air pressure.

VMounted on shaft .66 is a bell. lever 13, pivotallyY connected at 1i'. to the .piston.15 o-an air cylinder. The aircylinder (notshowniis pivotally mounted on the frame of the lling machine. When the air cylinder operates vtomove .lever 13 into the position shown by thel dotted lines'. in. Figure 3, theV diskis rotated. The degree of 'roe tation may be to any.extent.desiredbut, as illustrated in connection .with the operation of. the

filling head of Figures 1V and 2 the rotationis. 110. Instead-of the air cylinder, anysuitable means for rotating vthe disk andY returning it to its original position may be employed.

As previously-indicated, a plurality of air ports extend through disk 68; these are numbered 16, 11, 18, 19 and 80, all lying on one radius. This radius is the same as grooves 8|, 82, 83, 84, 85fand 88, which are. cut in the face of the disk matching the face of body member 53. These grooves and p orts just described are on the same radius as delivery ports 59 and 6I in body member, 5,3. Port 18 opens into groove 84, and port `88 opens into groove 86.

Grooves 8l, 82, 83 and`85 interconnect withla circular groove 81, which has a radius corresponding to port 56. VGrrooves 88, 88, 88 and 8! lie on the radius of' ports S2 and 63, andlikewise interconnect with groove 31. Port YSi? vopening into groove 93; port 94.0pening` into groove 9.5; port 96 opening into groove 91 (all in disk 68) are likewise on the radiusl of .ports B2 and .63.. Another groove 98 lies on the same radius. It should be understood thatthe pattern of the various ports and the various grooves can be modified, and the numberthereof can be' altered, to suit the particular type of service to which the valving mechanism may be adapted. The pattern shown is especially adapted to the operation of the lling head illustrated in Figuresl and 2, the operation of which has been described generally above.

To illustrate the operationmore-"exactly, in reference to the relative positions oijthe grooves and p orts at any particular stage of a lling cycle,

whether the various heads on the filling headV are open or closed, which in turn determines whether the container and shroud are under In a like manner, it determines whether the valve in powder passageway I3 is open or closed.

The oscillating disk, at the beginning of the cycle, is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figures 7 to l0 are viewed from thesame direc- In these figures, theY tiongas Figure 3, and thusare reverse imagesY of` Figure. f

At the initial stage, air pressure isbeing supplied through port 18. Vacuum is `being supplied through port 56, so that groove 81 and all the tributary. grooves are undervacuum at all times. The deliveryport 59, connecting with line l2 to head "No. .1, coincides with port 1li in disk 88. Thus, air pressure is being supplied to head No. l, causing the diaphragm 39 to expand and close oif ports 33 and 31. Sinceport 8l, connecting with headNo. 2 through line 52, likewise coincideswith 'a port' inthe rotarydisk, head No. 2 is *closedf Port 63, which leads tothe powder inletLvalve, is likewise under air pressure, and the powder valve is closed.' rPort 52, connecting by line 44 they central head, coincides with a tributary of groove 81; consequently, the diaphragm 4.6 is drawn away fromports 32 and 38, which leaves the container and shroud at atmosphericy pressure. This condition exists until theconing of platform 2|.

The oscillating disk is then rotated counter-.I

clockwise. When it reaches the positionshown in Figure 8' (10). ports 59- andl coincide with grooves tributary to grooveland a Vacuum isv pulled on headsNo. 1 and No. 2, permitting evacuation of the container .and the shroud through bothheads. Simultaneously, Va groove into` which one of the ports through the disk opens, `coincides with port-.52 leading to the central head, thereby closing the relief ports. Thusthe'central head is closed, and both lling heads are opened, until the disk has been turned through 47. During the first 18 of rotation, port 63 is under air pressure and the powder valve is closed, preventing flow of powder from the hopper into the container. After 18v of rotation, it can be seen by inspection of Figure 8 that a groove tributary to groove 81 will have moved over port 83, thus evacuating line i5 and tube I6,gand the hopper will be open. During the initial. 18 of rotation, the Icontainery and A. shroud will have .been substantially evacuated,

so that when the hopper valve is opened, there will `be a sudden pull of powder into theevacuated container. 'Ihe pressure diierential will be suflicient to overcome any tendency for the powder to bridge across the hopper'opening, and thepowder will be drawn violently intothe container, with the result that it tends to pack substantially and entrained airin the powder will tend to. be forced out of it.

The disk continues to rotate until the port` markedv X and thegroove marked XX coincide with ports v59 and 5l. At this time a condition similar to that shown in Figure 1 will exist in the head; that is, the central head will be open,

and heads Nos'. l and 2 will be closed. The diiier.-.

ence will be thatvtlie hopper will be hperl, since port 63fwill still coincide with a groove tributary to groove 81.

lAs the disk continues to rotate, it reaches the position shown in Figure 9, No. 2 head is closed,v the central head is closed, and' No. 1 head is As it conlthe No. 1 head will' then close, v

head will be closed, the No. 1 head will be closed, and the No. 2 head will open for about 7 of rotation, until a total of 110 of rotation has been eected, as shown in Figure 10.

At this point the bell lever i3 is in the position shown by dotted lines in Figure 3. The air cylinder controlling thelever is then rapidly reversed, and the entire cycle is repeated in reverse but at a much more rapid rate, until the lever 13 reaches the starting position. The initial counterclockwise rotation of the disk 68 is relatively slow compared with the return movement. The principal lling operation occurs during the first 47 of operation. The lling is substantially completed during the alternating operations of heads Nos. 1 and 2. This portion of the operation may take place in a matter of seconds, the length of time depending to some extent upon the size of the container to be filled.. Obviously, small containers will require less time than those of larger capacity, sometimes being of the order of a second for the entire cycle. The reverse operation, because of the rapidity with which the reverse cycle is repeated, causes what might be termed jarring or vibrating of the contents, so asto de-aerate and pack the powder. This insures a maximium iill with a minimum subsequent settling of the contents of the container in storage, which, if excessive, results in objectionable outage. Since the hopper is open during all except the last V18" of the reverse cycle, additional powder will be drawn into the container as the vibrating action causes the contents to settle. This double valving" action, is one of the great advantages of the present type of oscillating valve.

The invention is not limited to the exact modification shown in the drawings, and changes in the pattern and numbers of ports and grooves will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, in adapting the mechanism to the control of various devices in which the pressure is varied from normal atmospheric to super-atmospheric to normal atmospheric to sub-atmospheric, according :to a predetermined cycle. The automatic control of a plurality of valves from a single source, and the timing of their operation, is one of the principal uses for the device. By addition of ports and grooves, more than four pneumatically controlled or operated mechanisms such as those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, can be controlled and synchronized with each other.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vacuum powder lling machine comprising, in combination, a hopper, a iilling head depending therefrom with a powder passageway therebetween, a pneumatic valve in said passageway, a shroud on the filling head, a pneumatically controlled vacuum valve, a pneumatically controlled relief valve, means for controlling and synchronizing the operation of the vacuum valve and relief valve and the valve in said powder passageway, said means comprising; a body member having a plurality of spaced delivery ports therein, means connecting the delivery 8 ports to 'said 'valves to control the operation thereof, a vacuum supply port in said body member, a disk mounted for rotation, the inner face of the body member and the matching face of the disk being in gas-tight bearing relationship, a plurality of ports in said disk positioned to coincide with the delivery ports in said body member, a circular groove in said matching face of the disk coinciding with the vacuum supply port, a plurality of arcuate grooves in said matching face interconnected with the circular groove and coinciding during some stage of rotation of the disk With said delivery ports, a face plate mounted on the body member in spaced relationshipto the opposing face of the disk forming an air chamber therebetween, anv air inlet into said chamber, and means for rotating said disk.

2. In combination, a vacuum filling apparatus wherein filling is effected by alternate evacuation and release to atmospheric pressure according to a predetermined cycle, a pneumatically controlled vacuum valve, a pneumatically controlled relief valve, and means for controlling and synchronizing the operation of said valves to produce the alternate evacuation and release to atmospheric pressure of the apparatus, said means comprising; a body member, a plurality of spaced delivery ports therein, a vacuum supply port therein, a bearing member in the body member, a rotatable shaft extending through the bearing member, a disk'mounted for rotation on said shaft, the inner face of the body. memberY and the matching face of the disk being in gastight bearing relationship, a plurality of ports in said disk positioned to coincide with the delivery ports in said body member, a circular groove in said matching face of the disk coinciding with the vacuum supply port, a plurality of arcuate grooves in said matching face interconnected with the circular groove and coinciding during'some stage of rotation of the disk with said delivery ports, a plurality of short arcuate grooves into which ports' in said disk open, a recessed face plate mounted on the body member and in spaced relationship to the opposing face of the disk forming an air chamber therebetween, the periphery of the disk bearing on the inner edge of the face plate, an air inlet port in the face plate opening into the chamber, and means for rotating said disk through a partial rotation and returning it to the starting position.

CLARENCE F. CARTER.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 23,504 Carter May 27, 1952 2,023,824 Tone et al Dec. l0, 1935 2,070,616 Nordquist Feb. 16, 1937 2,254,642 Barnby et al Sept. 2, 1941 2,538,441 Carter Jan. 16, 1951 2,540,059 Stirn et al Jan. 30, 1951 2,583,866 Mero Jan. 29, 1952 

